Presidential Campaign Attention: Why Most States Aren't Worth Any Despite Their Generosity
Posted on What's New Andrea Levien, Presidential Tracker on November 01, 2012
For the past two months, FairVote has been highlighting the inequality that the winner-take-all method of allocating electoral votes perpetuates: swing states are targetted and safe states are not. However, another type of inequality to consider is the inequality this rule creates between wealthy and non-wealthy safe state residents. Wealthy residents in every state are targetted at fundrairsers, as they provide a good portion of the money funding the campaigns. Low and middle income swing state residents are targetted because they provide votes that could swing a state to one candidate or another. Low and middle income safe state residents, on the other hand, are out of luck.
Read moreYet Again, Just Three States Draw The Majority of Campaign Attention: Presidential Tracker Update, October 17, 2012
Posted on What's New Andrea Levien, Presidential Tracker on October 17, 2012
This election cycle, the three largest battleground states - Florida, Ohio, and Virginia, together representing about 12.5% of the nation - are receiving the majority of campaign attention as measured by both ad spending and campaign events with presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Florida and Ohio were among the three states in the same position in 2004 and 2008, but Virginia has displaced Pennsylvania as the third most coveted state.
Read moreHow New Mexico Lost Its Swing
Posted on What's New Andrea Levien, Presidential Tracker on October 04, 2012
New Mexico is no longer a swing state. Therefore, it should no longer expect any attention from either presidential campaign. Why did this happen and what does it mean for other states in the 2016 election?
Read moreSwing States and Swing Media Markets: Presidential Tracker Update, October 3, 2012
Posted on What's New Andrea Levien, Presidential Tracker on October 03, 2012
There are 34 days left before Election Day, and the candidates have yet to campaign in 40 states since the end of the Democratic National Convention, which ended September 7. But don't take that to mean that the candidates are sitting on their laurels. Read here where the candidates have been spending their time and money during the month of September.
Read moreFairVote's Presidential Campaign Tracker: Past, Present, and Future
Posted on What's New Andrea Levien, Presidential Tracker on September 18, 2012
The presidential campaign has entered its final weeks, when presidential candidates travel and campaign across the country almost every day (in swing states), advertise on television hundreds of times a day (in swing states), and thousands of volunteers devote their weekends and evenings to getting out the vote (in in swing states). This election cycle, FairVote is continuing our efforts to track the candidates’ travel and television ad spending, just as we did in the 2004 and 2008 campaigns and throughout President Barack Obama’s time in office.
Read moreConvening in the Swing States: Why the parties are meeting in Florida and North Carolina
Posted on What's New Andrea Levien, Presidential Tracker on August 27, 2012
Was it the hope of swing state victories that led the Republican and Democratic parties to decide to host their conventions in Charlotte, North Carolina and Tampa, Florida? Evidence suggests that it was, even if that may not mean much in terms of either campaign’s ability to win those states.
Read moreSwing States of America: Candidate Tracker and News, August 6
Posted on What's New Presidential Tracker on August 03, 2012
Nationwide polls remain close, but recent swing state polling suggests that President Barack Obama is beginning to pull away from Mitt Romney in the few states that will decide the 2012 presidential election. Obama attempts to further increase this lead with another week of swing state campaigning.
Read morePresidential Tracker: New Evidence of our Shrinking Battleground
Posted on What's New Hã¼seyin Koyuncu, Presidential Tracker, Katie P. Kelly on January 27, 2012
President Obama's travel patterns over the past months have been leaning toward battleground and fundraising states. How does the whole of 2011 shape up? We summarize the past year and look at what is to come as the 2012 presidential election year comes into full swing.
Read morePresidential Tracker: Looking at the Structure
Posted on What's New Presidential Tracker, Katie P. Kelly on December 01, 2011
Tracking the president's events and visits doesn't produce surprises considering the electoral system under which he operates, but it does provide insight into the inadequacies of our current structure -- affirming that the rules have a direct correlation on the outcomes.
Read morePresidential Tracker: "Show Me the Money"
Posted on What's New Presidential Tracker, Katie P. Kelly on October 14, 2011
Fundraising played a large role in the events of the past month, but swing state visits are also gearing up. Check out this update for an analysis of the latest visits and a color-coded map state events. The disparity between state visits just may surprise you.
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